Product Overview

This 12-inch Master-Grade Tanto is the culmination of everything a serious collector seeks in a traditional Japanese short sword. Forged from T10 high-carbon tool steel and subjected to the ancient clay tempering (yaki-ire) process, the blade develops a genuine candle-flame hamon — a real, visible temper line that flickers across the steel like candlelight in the wind. This is not an etched or acid-washed imitation. This is the real thing.

The blade is finished with an authentic Japanese upper polish (jō-togi) — a meticulous process that goes beyond standard polishing to achieve a flawless, mirror-like surface that reveals the hamon in breathtaking clarity. Combined with 17 stages of hand water-polishing, the result is a blade face of exceptional depth and luminosity.

The mountings are equally exceptional. The genuine iron tsuba provides authentic historical weight and the classic dark patina of traditional samurai swords. The handle is built on a base of genuine ray skin (samegawa) and wrapped with hand-woven silk cord (shō-ken tsuka-ito) — the same materials and techniques used on ceremonial-grade blades in Japan. The solid wood saya is finished in deep black lacquer with a decorative sageo cord. Every piece arrives in a premium brocade gift box.

Specifications

Key Features

• ▸ Genuine Candle-Flame Hamon — Authentic clay tempering (yaki-ire) produces a real, visible candle-flame hamon that flickers across the blade like candlelight. Not an etched imitation — this is the genuine article.
• ▸ T10 High-Carbon Tool Steel — Forged from premium T10 steel for exceptional hardness, superior edge retention, and the authentic feel of a true samurai weapon.
• ▸ Japanese Upper Polish (Jō-Togi) — Beyond standard polishing, this blade receives an authentic Japanese upper polish that achieves a flawless, mirror-like surface revealing the hamon in breathtaking clarity.
• ▸ 17-Step Hand Water Polish — Each blade is painstakingly polished by hand through seventeen stages, laying the foundation for the upper polish and ensuring every detail is perfect.
• ▸ Genuine Iron Tsuba — Crafted from real iron rather than zinc alloy, providing authentic historical weight, the classic dark patina, and the unmistakable feel of traditional samurai mountings.
• ▸ Genuine Ray Skin Handle (Samegawa) — The handle is built on a base of authentic ray skin, the same material used on historical samurai swords, providing an unmistakable texture and ceremonial-grade authenticity.
• ▸ Hand-Woven Silk Tsuka-ito — The handle is wrapped with traditional shō-ken silk cord, hand-woven for an authentic grip, superior ergonomics, and the luxurious feel of ceremonial-grade Japanese swords.
• ▸ Black Lacquer Saya with Sageo — Solid wood scabbard finished in deep, glossy black Japanese lacquer with a decorative sageo cord for a complete, authentic presentation.
• ▸ Premium Brocade Gift Box — Arrives in an elegant brocade presentation box, making this master-grade tanto the ultimate gift for the most discerning collector.

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